Spinning toy



Feb. 17, 1948. .J. WORQNESKI I 2,436,15

SPINNING TOY Filed May 24, 1946 Patented Feb. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPINNING TOY Joseph Woroneski, Croydon, Pa.

Application May 24, 1946, Serial No. 671,998

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a spinning toy, and

more particularly to a spinning top toy operable by a string.

An object of this invention is to provide a top toy which may be held between the hands and revolved first in one direction and then in the opposite direction under the influence of string, adapted to be twisted upon itself.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spinning top havin several strands of cord permanently attached thereto and which strands are adapted to be manually coiled about each other to start the top spinning, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction as the strands uncoil and coil successively, and in which the strands are connected to the top by a clutch enabling the top to spin freely when the strands reach a fixed maximum coiling position,

A further object of this invention is to provide a revolving top having a disc-like shape with a set of strands connected to each side of the disc, at the center, the outer end of each set of strands having a button So that the top held with a button in each hand may be rotated in a wide arc to coil the strands in 'One direction whereupon pulling apart of the buttons will cause the strands to unwind to spin the top in one direction, and

wherein a clutch is provided to permit the top to spin freely when the strands wind up completely, in the opposite direction, and the buttons are moved towards each other.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a disc-like spinning toy. having a set of strands connected by means of a clutch device to each side of the disc and in which pulling on the strands engages the clutch and slackening the strands permits the clutch to release, and in which the strands are adapted to coil first in one direction and then in the other direction to spin the toy in opposite directions, and in which the top will continue to revolve after the strands stop coiling.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following specification and claims and from the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of the spinning toy of this invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view, taken on line 2-4 of Figure 1, and showing a side face of the top per se;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing one of the clutch elements.

Referring to the drawing, l denotes generally the top proper which consists of a pair of disclike side members 2 and 3 permanently fastened together along their outer rims, as at 4. The members 2 and 3 can be formed integrally, but preferably they are separate pieces, the outer rim of one of the members being securely folded over the outer rim of the other member. The members 2 and 3 are bowed outwardly in the center portion as at 5, forming the hollow interior 6.

Communicating with the interior 6 are several aligned holes I which provide means for airing out the interior 6 and also permit air to rush through the holes during spinning, thereby providing a whistling sound. The top I is preferably made of a light metal, although a heavy metal, wood, or plastic may be used within the scope of this invention.

Passing through a bushing 8 fastened in the center of the top I are a pair of clutch elements 9, shown in detail in Figure 3. Each clutch element consists of a rod having a curved face [0 and a fiat face ll. At one end of the rod is an eye l2 and at the other end is a lug l3 having a flat interior clutch face 14 adapted to engage the end face of the bushing 8. The bushing 8 is large enough to loosely receive both clutch elements, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the fiat faces ll of the clutch elements facing each other and with the eyes 12 extending outwardly.

Through each of the eyes l2, there is looped a cord 15 having one or more strands IS, the outer end of each of the cords l5 being fastened securely to a button II.

In operation, the toy is held with a button II in each hand and the strands l6 are initially coiled, for example in the direction shown in Figure 1.

The initial coiling is preferably accomplished by swinging the top I in a wide arc while holding the cords l5 in a slack condition. When the strands are tightly coiled, it is merely necessary to tension the cords l5 by separating the buttons ll, 1. e., by pulling on the buttons. This tensioning operation will cause the strands to unwind and simultaneously will spin or revolve the top I since the clutch faces M are firmly held against the end faces of bushing 8 to transmit the rotary motion of the clutch elements 9 to,

top meanwhile spinning in the original direction. At about this time, or shortly before, the coil unwinds, the cords are slackened by bringing the buttons somewhat closer to ether. This 3 will remove the pressure between the clutch face I and the end faces of bushing 8 and as a result, when the coil winds up in the opposite direction, the clutch elements 9 will stop rotary movement, but the top I will continue to revolve for some time due to the inertia built up and to the release of the clutch. Then when the top i stops spinning in the original direction, the buttons are again pulled apart to tension the cords and the coiled strands unwind again to spin the top in the opposite direction to repeat the cycle in an opposite direction. In this cycle the strands will pass through an uncoiled condition and an oppositely coiled condition successively while thetop continues to spin in said opposite direction, Again during this cycle, the cords are manually 2. A spinning toy comprising a hollow disc-like top, a central opening through said top, a pair of rods loosely fitting in said opening and each having an eye formed on one end, a clutch face formed on the opposite end of each of said rods for engaging the outer faces of said top and driving said top, a cord looped through each of said eyes, a button carried by the outer end of each of said cords, whereby upon initial coiling of said cords, outward pulling of said buttons will cause said cords to uncoil, apply tension to the cords and cause said clutch faces to engage to spin said top, and whereby after inertia causes said cords slackened to release the clutch so that the top will continue to spin in said opposite direction when the clutch elements 9 cease spinning'due to the strands being completely wound up.

It is apparent that by-the use of the clutchelements the top I is permitted to spin urlder the inertia built up long after the clutch elements 9 and cords l5 stop rotation. This continued spinning of the top increases the entertainment value of the device by permitting a longer spinning time. Also for a given spinning time, fewer tension strokes on the cords l5 are required.

While a certain specific embodiment of this invention has beenshown it will be understood that various modifications'may be made within the spirit of the invention. Therefore no limitations on the invention are intended other than are imposedby the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spinning toy comprising a disc-like top, an opening through the center of said top a split shaft passing through said opening and forming a pair of clutch elements for rotating said top, a plurality of strands connected to each of said clutch elements and extending on each side of said top, said clutch elements being constructed and arranged to engage the top forv driving when the strands are tensioned. and to release from the top' when the strands are slackened and whereby the strands are adapted to be initially coiled'an'd then uncoiled by applying tension thereto to cause the clutch elements to engage and spin said top.

r N umber to soil up tightly in the opposite direction, and

said cords are slackened to release said clutch faces, said top will continue to spin freely under inertia after said coils are completely rewound.

shaft being longitudinally split into two rods each being substantially semi-circular in cross-section and each having a clutch face forv en-gagingan outer face of said top. s

4. A spinning toy comprising a disc-like top, and a pair of clutch rods slidably mounted in the center of said'top, one end ofeaeh of said rods having connected thereto a plurality of strands of cord, the other end of each of said rods forming a clutch face for engaging an outer face of said top, whereby tensioning of said strands will cause said clutch faces to engage said top, and releasingi'said strands will cause disengagement of said clutch faces to permit said top to spin freely after the rods cease rotating.

JOSEPH WQRONESKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: '7 v UNITED V STATES PATENTS Name Date 207,649 w Forbes Sepfl.-3,'-1878 

